Allergies can get you at any age – your GP or chemist can help with the symptoms and managing allergies.

You know what? I always had cats in my life, since I was a child. Suddenly at 26 years of age, after living 11 years (no joke! 11 years!!) with the same cat, I developed an allergy to cats! Poor Charlie! He was used to sleep on my bed and he just couldn’t anymore. I couldn’t touch him, or I was having terrible side effects. Poor one. Maybe he thought he did something wrong, because suddenly our relation changed.
I haven’t touched any cats for a long time. Then suddenly some years ago I tried again. It looked fine. Then another time I was playing with my neighbour’s cat, and after half an hour or so, my eyes started to swollen. My husband wanted to bring me to Emergency. And, stupidly, I didn’t make the connection with the cat. Luckily my daughter did eventually. I took an anti-histamine and the morning after I was ok again.
Allergies can indeed develop at any stage of your life. With cats, what I learned is that I am fine if I immediately wash my hands with soap after touching one. If I don’t and by mistake I touch my eyes… it’s disaster.

Sounds aweful. Have you spoken with a health professional? Has you environment changed? Dust/mould and other household contaminants can be really aggravating.